Tuesday, May 22. 2012

It is tradition that we remember the sacrifices of our servicemen and women this weekend, but it also marks the 30th anniversary of a very significant milestone in the growth and development of IRM. The button on the hat above was issued May 31, 1982 marking the opening of a mainline extension project that added over a mile of operations to IRM. Note to self: Do not try to take a picture of a white button on a black hat.

One Done

Part of the reason this report is late this week is that I have spent the last three days at IRM striving to get the lettering completed on our hopper, Great Northern 70104. That, and very balky computer this AM. But the first herald is done and this completes all lettering on the right side of the car.

Onward

The transfer pattern we created is in place on the second or left side and ready to move onward. The pattern was traced and the inner black circle has been painted.

Side Patch

Victor Humphreys is at the drill press fabricating the second side patch for our B&O wagon top boxcar.

Dust Shields

The set of eight new dust shields has been finished, and ready to have a coating applied. These slide into place over the axles behind the journal boxes on the car being restored on our TMS project, Milwaukee Electric 972.

Windows

The crew was in high gear this weekend doing work on Cleveland Transit System 4223. Here, Lorne Tweed is using the torch to apply heat and to remove bound up screws in a window frame. This will allow replacement of damaged glass and weatherstripping.

Window Tracks

Out in the barn, Eric Lorenz was busy drilling and tapping many holes in the window posts, ready to install the tracks for these windsows. I forget - was it 34 holes done, 382 to go?

And Painting

Never a minute wasted! Lorne moved on to prime painting many of the parts that have been cleaned over the last few work days. These are pedestals, sort of a truncated pyramid in shape, that fasten to the roof of the car for ultimately holding the many next layers of parts and finally, the trolley base and pole.

Sanding

Ray Schmid was out inside Barn 4 on a scaffold where he was sanding and doing finish work on the roof of Michigan Electric 28. What great weather for this work - 90 degrees at ground level and probably 105 up close under the metal roof.

Bending

Jeff Brady resumed the fussy work of bending and installing thin basswood slats for the rounded roof at the back end of the 28. Here he is engineering the curvature and bends for each custom fitted slat.

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Ted about Just Another SaturdayThu, 05-03-2018 12:57Folks,
Over in the news section, I
see the C&NW 8728 heavyweight
baggage car has been retired from
retail duty. I see that the car is
not [...]

RI4506 donor about A Real Moving ExperienceSun, 04-29-2018 15:22The PRR caboose is looking good.
Thanks Mr. Humphreys, Rogan and
Peterson.
Are donations still needed for ATSF
caboose #1400? And is this Santa
[...]

Raphael about Just Another SaturdaySat, 04-21-2018 01:25with the Schroeder store now open
for business, Will the 3 baggage
cars become part of the regular
coach fleet again?

David Guillaudeu about Electroliner NewsWed, 04-11-2018 11:28You mention in the header that you
would like to have the Electroliner
operational by its birthday. Was
it?

Lee about The Steam Dream is Taking ShapeSun, 04-08-2018 20:03As a child, IRM was always my
favorite place to visit. Well,
other than grandma's house next to
the Geneva Sub. It's been many
years since I now [...]

Kenneth B about Turntable successfully unloadedWed, 04-04-2018 16:01Those temporary walls could be
constructed in a way that allows
their reuse after the phase is done
to close off the new phases.

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diligence and passion of the
current mix of volunteers
associated with IRM in 2018. Back
when I was a active [...]

Thomas Kaufman about Rock Island BlueMon, 03-26-2018 11:10Awesome paint job Jamie!!! I never
would of thought with the Rock
Island history this locomotive in
this scheme would of been
preserved. Thanks for [...]